It appears Ross Pierschbacher – one of the nation’s top offensive linemen – is rolling with the Tide.

The Cedar Falls senior sent an email Sunday to several media outlets announcing he had changed his mind and will play football for Alabama — and not Iowa.

“After considering many different options and things important to me, my family, and my future career, I am excited to announce that I have decided to play my collegiate career for Coach (Nick) Saban and The University of Alabama,” Pierschbacher wrote in the release. “This has been a very humbling experience and I would like to thank everyone that has helped me along the way.”

Messages left for Pierschbacher by the Des Moines Register were not immediately returned.

Cedar Falls coach Pat Mitchell said he talked with Pierschbacher on Friday.

“He had a visit down there and was very impressed,” Mitchell said. “I think he wants to get the thing over with before school starts.”

The 6-foot-4, 295-pound Pierschbacher originally committed to the Hawkeyes in January, but speculation has swirled about his status since the spring.

“I’m still committed to Iowa,” he said in April. “I couldn’t really tell you what’s in the future.

“A year is a long ways away, and it seems like recruiting is kind of a crazy trail and a lot of things tend to happen.”

Pierschbacher was an elite all-state honoree by the Register last fall. He also received scholarship offers from Oklahoma, Stanford, Southern California and Notre Dame, among others.

“I would like to thank Coach (Kirk) Ferentz, his coaching staff, and the University of Iowa for the offer to be part of Hawkeye football,” Pierschbacher said in Sunday’s statement. “They have great tradition, outstanding people and a top notch program.”

Rivals.com lists Pierschbacher as a four-star prospect, and the No. 80 prep player overall.